Clamp for ear ornaments



Sept. 20, 1966 J. c. WHITFIELD 3,273,215

CLAMP FOR EAR ORNAMENTS Filed July 14, 1964 INVENTOR.

JOHN C, WHITFIELD ATTORNEY United States Patent C 3,273,215 CLAMP FOR EAR ORNAMENTS John C. Whitfield, Rte. 8, Topeka, Kaus. Filed `luly 14, 1964, Ser. No. 382,556 11 Claims. (Cl. 24-263) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in clamps such as may be used to detachably secure an ear ornament to lthe lobe of the ear of a wearer though such clamp may be employed for other purposes, and more particularly the clamp of this invention pertains to a U-shaped frame, one leg of which carries a movable clamping means that is selectively positionable to clamp or release an object disposed between the leg-s of the U- shaped frame.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a clam-p having only two relatively movable parts that can be etiicaciously actuated both to clamp and to release the object clamped.

Another important object of the invention in accordance with the preceding object is to provide a clamp having only two relatively movable parts in which one of such parts is selectively positionable in a clamping position and a releasing position, and in which such part affords a predetermined amount of resistance to movement from one of such positions to the other in order to reduce the likelihood of an inadvertent change of position.

Another important object of -this invention in accordance with the preceding objects is to provide a clamp such that any movement of an object clamped thereby such as would tend to dislodge such object from the clamp will tend to increase the resistance afforded movement of said part from its clamping position to its releasing position and/or to increase the clamping pressure.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a clamp that is simple, reliable and inexpensive to manufacture, and which is simple in its operation so that the user can easily operate the same and do so even when the clamp is disposed in any position such as to be outside the field of View of the user.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clamp such that the minimum clearance between the clamping surfaces of the relatively movable parts can be readily adjusted and which with such minimum clearance additionally affords a degree of resilience so that the object clamped is yieldingly retained.

One of the most important features of the invention is the provision of a clamping foot having arms attached thereto that serve to guide and limit the movement of the clamp foot and by means of which the position of the clamp foot can be controlled to move between a clamping and a release position.

Another important feature of the invention is that the clamping means includes a pair of arms that are resiliently cammed apart during movement of the clamp foot intermediate i-ts clamping and release positions so thatapredetermined amount of resistance is obtained to movement of the clamp foot intermediate such positions, whereby inadvertent release of the clamp is rendered less likely.

Still another important feature of the invention is that the juncture of the clamp foot with one of the aforementioned arms is such as to engage a deformable object clamped thereby so that dislodgment of the clamped object tends to move or exert force against the clamp foot urging the same in the direction that opposes movement of the clamp foot toward its releasing position and/or urges the clamp foot into tighter clamping relation to the clamped object.

Yet another important feature of the invention is that each of the two parts of the clamp can be stamped from ice tiat sheet material, bent and assembled to complete the clamp in such a manner Ithat such parts are retained in assembled relation.

Still another feature of the invention is that the two parts of the clamp are formed of material which can be permanently deformed so as to retain a desired conrtiguration, and which are additionally resilient so as to return to such desired contiguration when subjected to exing that does not exceed that normally attending use of the clamp.

Broadly, one aspect of the invention is a clamp comprising a generally U-shaped frame comprising first and second spaced legs connected by a web with the first leg being elongated and having a free end remote from the web, said first leg having a slot therethrough, a clamping member carried by said rst leg including a clamping foot disposed between the legs, said clamping member including an elongated actuating arm connected .to the clamp foot and extending therefrom through the slot, said arm being slidingly reciprocable through the slot, means for constraining the arm during reciprocation thereof to maintain general direc-tional alignment of the arm in a direction that converges toward the second leg at `an oblique angle whereby reciprocating movement of the arm in one direction causes the clamp foot to move toward the second leg and away from the web, and means for limiting reciprocating movement of the arm to prevent displacement of the latter from the slot.

Another aspect of the invention is structure for use in a clamp comprising an elongated member of generally rectangular transverse section, said member having a free end and being curved for a first portion of its length in one direction about its major transverse dimension adjacent its free end and being curved for a second portion of its length in the opposite direction about its major transverse dimension at a position remote from the free end thereof, said member being provided with longitudinally extending rst and second slots through the minor transverse dimension thereof, said slots being longitudinally aligned and spaced from each other tok delne a web portion of the member therebetween, and with the remote ends of the slots being closed, said rst and second slots respectively coinciding at least in part with the first and second curved portions of the member, and a clamping means carried by the member, said clamping means including a clamping foot disposed on one side of the member with respect to which the rst and second curved portions of the member respectively curve away from and toward, rst and second arms each having an end xed to the clamp foot slidably extending respectively through the rst and second slots, means at the end of the irst arm for preventing displacement of the same from the first slot and for engagement against the other concave lside of the first curved portion to limit movement of the clamp foot in one direction, said second arm being engage-able with the web on said one side of the member and having a length at least sufficiently great to extend through the second slot when the means at the end of the iirst arm is engaged to limit movement of the clamp foot in said one direction.

A somewhat more limited aspect of the invention involves structure for use in a clamp ycomprising an elongated member of generally rectangular transverse section, said member having a free end and being curved for a first portion of its length in one direction about its major transverse dimension adjacent its free end and being curved for a second portion of its-length in the opposite direction about its major transverse dimension at a position remote from the free end thereof, said member being provided with longitudinally extending tirst and second slots through the minor transverse dimension thereof,

l s said 4slots being longitudinally aligned and spaced from each other to define a web portion of the member therebetween, and with the remote ends of the slots being closed, said first and second slots respectively coinciding at least in part with the first and second `curved port-ions of the member, and a cl-amping means carried by said member, said clamping means comprising a clamping foot having first and second integral arms at its opposite ends, said clamping foot being disposed on one side of the member with respect to which the first and second curved portions of the member respectively curve away from and toward, the first arm being bent back upon itself and extending slidahly through the first slot and being enlarged at its end remote from the clamp foot to prevent displacement from the first slot, said second arm initially extending from the clamp foot to engage the side of the web at said one side of the member and thence extending slidably through the second slot when the clamping foot is in clamping position, yand said clamping foot being movable to a releasing position in which the second arm extends directly through the second slot.

Yet another broad aspect of the invention involves a clamp comprising a generally U-shaped frame including first and second spaced and opposed legs connected by a bight portion, said first leg having a free end portion curved away from the second leg, and an adjacent intermediate portion inclined toward the second leg, said first leg including elongated and aligned first and second slots that are spaced apart to define therebetween a web portion of the first leg, said first slot being closed at its end remote from the web and at least in part coinciding with the curved free end portion of the first leg, said web coinciding at least in part with said intermediate portion of the first leg, anda clamping means comprising a clamping foot disposed between the legs and having fixed thereto first and second arms slidably extending respectively through the first and second slots, said first arm being generally V-shaped with the apex thereof being directed from the bight portion of the frame and having an enlarged free end, said second arm being generally L-shaped with the lincluded angle defined thereby opening lgenerally towa-rd the juncture of the second leg and the bight portion of the frame.

With respect to each of the aspects of the invention set forth above, the clamping means and/or the U-shaped frame are made of a material which can be permanently deformed by bending and yet which in its permanently deformed shape is resilient so as to be susceptible to at least a modest degree of flexing resiliently without further permanent deformation. Additionally, the U-shaped frame may if desired have fixed thereto an ornament or the 4l-ike as in the case of jewelry or ornaments such as may be displayed upon the lobe of an ear of a wearer.

Other objects, features, aspects and advantages will become manifest during the ensuing description of preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which such preferred embodiments are illustrated, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a preferred embodiment of the clamp of this invention, such clamp bein-g shown in clamping position and attached to an ear ornament;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1, the view being taken upon the plane of symmetry and showing the same as applied to the lobe of an ear of a wearer indicated in dash-dot outline;

FIGURE 3 yis a sectional view similar to the sectional view shown in FIGURE 2; however, this View showing the clamp in release position;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the clamp shown .in FIGURES 1 through 3 inclusive, showing the same -in clamping position with the ear ornament omitted, and with concealed structure being indicated in dashed outline;

4FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view corresponding to FIGURE 4; however, this View showing the clamp in release position;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of a stamping from flat sheet stock from which the movable clamping means is formed by bending;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of a blank stamped from flat sheet stock from which the U-shaped frame is formed by bending;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of an alternative form of stamped blank from which the U-shaped portion of the clamp can be formed by bending. l

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the Various views, the reference numeral 10 designates the clamp of Vthis invention gene-rally.

The clamp 10 comprises a 4generally U-shaped frame of integral construction comprised of spaced legs 12 and 14 that are connected by a web or bight portion 16,. Preferably, though not necessarily the web or bight portion 16 of the U-shaped frame is of curved character so as to smoothly merge with the ends of the legs 12 and 14 connected thereby as shown. Y

An intermediate portion of the longitudinal extent of the leg 14 is inclined to the leg 12 so as to extend in a direction that converges toward the leg 12 from the bight portion 16, with the free end of the leg 14 being curved away from the leg 12 to constitute a curved end portion or hook 18 that opens on the side of the leg 14 opposite the leg 12 toward the end of the leg 14 adjacent the bight portion 16. Adjacent the bight portion 16 and 'at a position 4spaced from the hook 18 by the previously mentioned intermediate portion 20, the leg 14 is curved for a portion 22 of its length in a direction opposite the direction of curVatu-re of the hook 18. It will be noted that the radius of curvature of the portion 22 is substantially greater than that of the radius of curvature of the curved end portion or hook 18.

The leg 14 is preferably generally of a rectangular transverse section throughout its longitudinal extent, and this is generally true with respect to the entire U-shaped frame inasmuch as such is the consequence of the preferred mode of fabrication of the clamp 10 las will be presently explained. The leg 14 is provided with a pair of elongated slots 24 and 26, each of which is of generally rectangular configuration, such slots being in align-V ment along the longitudinal extent of the leg 14 and spaced from each other by a web 28. It will be noted that in the preferred construction the web 28 constitutes a portion of the intermediate extent 20 of the leg 14 that is inclined or convergent toward the leg 12 as previously described.

The longitudinal extent of the slot 24 is such as to include parts of the curved and intermediate extents, 18 and 20 respectively, of the leg 14. The longitudinal extent of the slot 26 -is such as to include at least a p0rtion of the curved extent 22 of the leg 14 as shown.

The clamp 10 additionally includes a clamping means carried by the U-shaped frame and more specifically carried by the leg 14. Such clamping means is designated generally at 30 and comprises a clamp foot 32 to the opposite ends of which :are attached arms 34 and 36, the

arms 34 and 36 preferably being integral with the clamp foot 32. The arm 34 is Ibent back upon itself asat 38 so yas yto overlie a portion of its own extent and to have its free end disposed in spaced relation from the clamp foot 32 on the side of the latter opposite the leg 12. Accordingly, the arm 34 is essentially V- or U-shaped. The -arm 34 is preferably rectangular in transverse section throughout its longitudinal extent and has a major transverse dimension somewhat smaller than the transverse dimension of the slot 24, and the arm 34 slidably extends through the slot 24. The free end extremity of the arm 34 is provided with laterally extending projections 40 and 42 so as to constitute an enlargement of the free @11d of the arm 34 to prevent displacement of the arm 34 from its position through the `slot 24.

The arm 36 is somewhat L-shaped as defined by a first portion thereof designated at 44 that extends from the clamp foot 32 in an angular relationship thereto to define an apex angle 46 directed generally toward the leg 12 and the bight 16 for a purpose to be presently explained, and a second portion 48 that is substantially straight that defines with the first portion 44 an angle 50 that opens generally toward the bight 16. The arm 36 including the portions 44 and 48 thereof is substantially rectangular in transverse section throughout and its major transverse dimension is such that the same is slidable through the slot 26 as shown. The free end of the arm 36 is bent at substantially right angles as indicated at 54 whereby the same can be manually gripped by the fingers or engaged by a fingernail for manu-a1 manipulation of the clamping means 30 as will be presently described.

The clamping means 30 is movable between the positions shown thereof in FIGURES 2 and 3 with the arms 34 and 36 working in the slots 24 and 26 respectively. Inspection of FIGURE 2 will show that the projections 40 and 42 at the free end of the arm 34 engage with the concave side of the hook 18 on opposite ysides of the slot 24 to limit movement of the clamping means 30 in a direction from the bight 16 and toward the free ends of the legs 12 and 14. Accordingly, FIGURE 2 shows the clamping means 38 in an eXtreme clamping position; however, it will be appreciated that a clamping function between -the leg 12 and the clamp foot 32 of somewhat lesser degree is realized upon the clamping means 30 being movable somewhat downwardly from the position shown thereof in FIGURE 2, this being for the reason .that the portion 48 of the arm 36 and the web or partition 28 being inclined to and convergent toward the free end of the leg 12. Such variance in degree of clamping action or spacing of the clamp foot 32 from the leg 12 is freely permitted for a limited amount of movement of the clamping means 30 downwardly from the position thereof in FIGURE 2. Such free movement downwardly occurs until sufiicient movement of the clamping means 30 has occurred for the free end of the arm 34 and the lateral projections 40 and 42 thereof to bear against the side of the leg 14 opposite the leg 12 with further downward movement of the clamping means 30 requiring and causing the free end of the arm 34 to be cammed to fieX away from lthe arm 36. Such eXing is resiliently and frictionally opposed by the arms 34 and 36 being resilient and in frictional engagement with the leg 14. Such poi-nts of frictional engagement include the portion 48 of the arm 36 engaging the end of the slot 26 adjacent the bight 16, the angle 50 engaging the side of the web 28 adjacent the leg 12, and the projections 40 and 42 engaging the side of the leg 14 opposite the leg 12. Such resilient fiexing opposing the clamping means 30 passing through positions intermediate those shown thereof in FIGURES 2 .and 3 occurs primarily in the curved portion 38 of the leg 34 but also occurs in the portion 44 `of the arm 36 adjacent the angle 46, and to some minor extent i-n the clamp foot 32. Such resistance to movement of the clamping means 30 from the position shown -thereof in FIGURE 2 towards the position shown in FIGURE 3 continues until the juncture or angle 50 of the portions 44 and 48 of the arm 36 passes into the slot 26. It will be -appreciated that conversely resistance is encountered in moving .the clamping means 30 from the position shown -thereof in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIGURE 2, whereby inadvertent movement of the clamping means 30 between the positions shown thereof in FIGURES 2 and 3 is rendered improbable.

While the clamp l@ as thus far described is suitable for many forms of clamping use and particularly for clamping use or securing use wherein the portion 44 of the arm 36 can be engaged over an enlarged object disposed between the legs 12 and 14 adjacent the bight 16 and extending between the leg 12 and the clamp foot 32, the same is especially well suited for clamping or being secured to a deformable object. Exemplary of the type of use last suggested is the use of the cl-amp 10 for detachably securing jewelry or a decorative ornament to the lobe of an ear of a wearer. Accordingly, as illustrative of this particular suitability of the clamp 10, FIGURES 1 through 3, inclusive, disclose an enlarged ear ornament that may for purposes of illustration be of hemispherical character shown at 60 secured to the side ofthe leg 12 opposite the leg 14. Referring particularly to FIGURE 2, wherein a portion of a wearers ear is indicated in dot-dash outline, with the lobe of such an ear being designated at 62. The clamp 10 is shown in FIGURE 2 as being clamped for securing the ornament 60 to the ear lobe 62, it being noted that the ear lobe 62 is disposed well within the legs 12 and 14 and is disposed closely adjacent to and substantially fills the bight 16. As is well known, the ear lobe 62 is substantially deformable and with the clamping means 30 in the clamping position shown in FIGURE 2 the ear lotbe 62 is somewhat deformed and under slight compression between the clamp foot 32 and the leg 12. The arrangement is such that the ear lobe 62 is somewhat bulged or thickened intermediate the portion 44 of the clamping means 30 and the bight 16, whereby such bulge affords substantial resistance against downward movement of the ornament 60 relative to the ear. In this regard, it will also be observed that downward force or movement of the ornament 60 rela-tive to the ear is accompanied by an upward force on the clamping means 30 relative to the U- shaped frame with the result that whenever the clamping means 30 is disposed in `clamping position but in a somewhat lower position relative to the U-shaped frame than is shown in FIGURE 2 such upward force on the clamping means 30 relative to the U-shaped frame will result in movement of the clamping means 30 upwardly with respect to the U-shaped frame With accompanying movement of the clamp foot 32 toward the leg 12 whereby a firmer clamping action of the clamp foot 32 on the ear 62 is obtained. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the angolari-ty at 46 defined at the juncture of the clamp foot 32 and the arm portion 44 contributes to the effective engagement of the clamping means 30 with the ear lobe 62 to augment the frictional engagement of the ear lobe 62 with the arm portion 48 and the clamp foot 32 that tend to urge relative upward movement of the clamping means 30.

Not only is it preferred that the clamping means 30 be formed of resilient material for the reasons hereinbefore explained, but it is -additionally desirable that the U-shaped frame or at least the bight 16 thereof be made of a resilient material to attain a somewhat resilient grasp of such an object as may be clamped between the leg 12 and the clamp foot 32. Such resilience of the U-shaped frame is not essential, but the advantages of such a provision will be manifest.

Perhaps even more desirable than making the U-shaped frame of resilient material is the making of the U-shaped frame from a material which may be permanently deformed by bending of the bight 16 beyond the elastic limits thereof so as to afford adjustability as to the spacing of the free ends of the legs 12 and 14 and consequently the spacing of the leg 12 from the clamp foot 32 when the clamping means 30 is in clamping position. This affords a convenient and adequate means whereby the clamp 10 may be as a component part of a detachably secured ear ornament to compensate for varying thickness of ear lobes. This .is deemed quite important in such an application as it is imperative in the interests of comfort to the wearer of an earring or ear ornament that only a minor if any degree of resilient clamping pressure be continuously applied to an ear lobe and yet that an unappropriately tight Spacing be provided to prevent ready dislodgment of the ornament from the ear of the wearer. The importance of this advantage would be dificult to exaggerate as is :altogether too Well known to ladies familiar with conventional means for attaching ear ornaments and the difficulty of making any adjustment to fit.

The U-shaped frame, including the legs 12 and 14 and the bight 16, as well as the clamping means 30 can be made of various materials including synthetic resins of sufficient resiliency; however, metals are deemed superior with metallic alloys such as brass, silver and gold being preferred. One of the chief advantages of using metallic alloys such as those identified is that the U-shaped frame and the clamping means 30 can be formed by bending suitably shaped blanks that can be readily stamped from flat sheet stock of such alloys. For example, FIGURE 7 illustrates a suitably shaped blank stamped from fiat sheet metal stock from which can be bent the U-shaped frame, it being noted that the blank 70 shown in FIG- URE 7 includes opening-s 72 and 74 corresponding to the slots 24 and 26 respectively of the U-shaped frame. The bending and forming of the completed U-shaped frame from the blank 70 will be readily understood by those skilled-in the art, it being only necessary -to appreciate that the bending of the blank 70 must beV suchV considering the resiliency of the metallic alloy so as to permanently deform the blank 70 into the finally desired configuration. That the blank 70 after such initial forming of the U-shaped frame can thereafter be further permanently deformed in the bight portion 16 thereof `to accommodate the thickness lof the ear lobe of a particular individual need not be further elaborated upon. It will suffice to point out that if desired or deemed necessary in order to enhance either the ease of flexing of the bight portion 16 or the permanent deformation of the bight portion 16 all that may be required lto accomplish such purpose is to reduce the major transverse dimension of the U-shsaped frame in the region of the bight portion 16. Indeed, FIGURE 8 illustrates a blank designated at 76 having openings 78 and 80 therein for constituting slots such as the previously described slots 24 and 26 and which further includes a necked down portion 82 of reduced transverse width which it will be understood will constitute on bending the blank 76 to constitute a U-shaped frame the bight portion thereof.

FIGURE 6 illustrates at 90 a blank stamped from fiat sheet material of a metallic alloy such as previously described .that may be bent to form the previously described clamping means 30, it being understood that the lateral extensions 92 and 94 will on completion of the bending operation constitute the lateral projections and 42. It will be noted on assembling the bent and formed blank 90 with the U-shaped frame that the blank 90 is twisted sufiiciently about its longitudinal axis to pass the same through the slot 24 after which the twist thus imparted is removed to complete the finally desired configuration.

It will be quite evident to those conversant with the art that the illustrated and described embodiments of the invention are susceptible to numerous variations without departing from the spirit of the invention. Among such variations which may be readily made upon becoming apprised `of the invention as illustrated and described would be the provision of a composite structure instead of the integral structure constituting the enlarged free end of the arm 34 as by simply brazing or rigidly attaching a cross pin 'to the end of the arm 34 after the latter has been passed through the slot 24. Other obvious variations would be increasing the transverse width of either the leg 12 in the region nearest the clamp foot 32 or the transverse dimension of the clamp foot 32 adjacent its juncture with the arm 36.

The invention has been described in greater detail than may be necessary, and such description has been so elaborate solely to assure a full and complete understanding of the principles involved, and any narrowness in scope of the invention is not to be thereby implied. Rather, attention is directed to the appended claims in order to ascertain the actual scope of the invention.

1. For use in a clamp, structure comprising an elongated member of generally rectangular transverse section, said member having a free end and being curved for a first portion of its length in one direction about its major transverse dimension adjacent its free end and being curved for a second portion of its length in the opposite dire-ction about its majortransverse dimension at a position remote from the free end thereof, said member being provided with longitudinally extending first and second slots through the minor transverse dimension thereof, said slots being longitudinally aligned and spaced from each other to define a web portion of the member therebetween, and with the remote ends ofthe slots being closed, said first and second slots respectively coinciding at least in part with the first and second curved portions iof' the memb*er, and a clamping means carried by the member, said clamping means including a clamping foot disposed on one side of the member'with respect to which the first and-second curved portions of the member respectively curve away from and toward, first Vand second arms each having an end fixed to the clamp foot slidably extending respectively through the first and second slots, means at the end of the first arm for preventing displacement of the same from the first slot and for engagement against the outer concave side of the first curved portion Ito limit movement of the clamp foot in one direction, said second arm being engageable with the Web on said one side of the member and having a length at least sufiiciently great to extend through the second slot when the means at the end of the first arm is engaged to limit Lmovement of the clamp foot in said one direction.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first arm is generally U-shaped with an end portion thereof remote from the clamp foot extending generally toward 'the second leg.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the clamp foot is movable between first and second positions and passes through an intermediate position in moving between such positions in which the end portion of the first arm remote from the clamp foot bears against the end of the first slot 'remotefrom the web, the means at the end of the first arm bears against said other side of the member, and the second arm bears against the web with the arms being resiliently flexed apart from their positions of repose, and one of said arms being resilient at least in part, whereby resistance to free movement of the clamp foot between the first and second positions is effected.

4. For use in a clamp, structure comprising an elongated member of generally rectangular transverse section, said member having a free end and being curved for a first portion of its length in one direction about its major transverse dimension adjacent its free end and being curved for a second portion of its length in the opposite direction about its major transverse dimension at a position remote from the free end thereof, said member being provided with longitudinally extending first and second slots through the minor transverse dimension thereof, said slots being longitudinally aligned and spaced from each other to define a web portion of the member therebetween, and with the remote ends of the slots being closed, said first and second slots respectively coinciding at least in part with the first and second curved portions of the member, and a clamping means carried by said member, said clamping means comprising a clamping foot having first and second integral arms at its opposite ends, said clamping foot being disposed on one side of the member with respect to which the first and second curved portions of the member respectively curve away from and toward, the first arm being bent back upon itself and extending slidably through the first slot and being enlarged at its end remote from the clamp foot to prevent displacement from the first slot, said second arm initially extending from ythe clamp foot to engage the side of the Web at said one side of the member and thence extending slidably through the second slot when the clamping foot is in clamping position, and said clamping foot being movable to a releasing position in which the second arm extends directly through the second slot.

S. A clamp comprising .a generally U-shaped frame including iirst and second spaced and opposed legs connected by a bight portion, said rst leg having a free end portion curved away from the second leg, said lirst leg including elongated and aligned rst and `second slots that are spaced apart to define -therebetween a web portion of the rst leg, said rst slot being closed at its end remote -from the web and at least in part coinciding with the curved free end portion of the first leg, said web coinciding at least in part with said intermediate portion of the first leg, and a clamping means comprising a clamping foot disposed between the legs and having fixed thereto rst and second arms slidably extending respectively :through the first and second slots, said rst arm being generally V-shaped with the apex thereof being directed from the bright portion of the frame and having an enlarged free end, said second arm being generally L-shaped with the included angle defined thereby opening generally toward the juncture of the second leg and the bight portion of the frame.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the second arm is provided at its end remote from the clamp foot with offset means for manual actuation of the second arm.

7. The combination of claim 5, wherein said frame is deformable whereby the spacing of the legs is adjustable and wherein an ornament is secured to the side of the second leg opposite from the rst leg.

8. The combination of claim 5, wherein the U-shaped frame is integral and formed from a flat sheet stock stamping.

. by bending.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,210,214 8/1940 Noll 24-263 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,127,258 8/1956 France.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,022,663 4/ 1912 Ehmann. 1,080,336 12/ 1913 Gammelgaard. 1,263,822 4/ 1918 Thomson. 2,269,662 1/ 1942 Guyot. 2,384,915 9/ 1945 Hoffman. 2,389,481 11/ 1945 Bazner. 2,427,478 9/ 1947 Shatkin. 2,971,236 2/ 1961 Baker.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Examiner.

D. GRIFFIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. FOR USE IN A CLAMP, STRUCTURE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR TRANSVERSE SECTION SAID MEMBER HAVING A FREE END AND BEING CURVED FOR A FIRST PORTION OF ITS LENGTH IN ONE DIRECTION ABOUT ITS MAJOR TRANSVERSE DIMENSION ADJACENT ITS FREE END AND BEING CURVED FOR A SECOND PORTION OF ITS LENGTH IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ABOUT ITS MAJOR TRANSVERSE DIMENSION AT A POSITION REMOTE FROM THE FREE END THEREOF, SAID MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FIRST AND SECOND SLOTS THROUGH THE MINOR TRANSVERSE DIMENSION THEREOF, SAID SLOTS BEING LONGITUDINAL ALIGNED AND SPACED FROM EACH OTHER TO DEFINE A WEB PORTION OF THE MEMBER THEREBETWEEB, AND WITH THE REMOTE ENDS OF THE SLOTS BEING CLOSED, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SLOTS RESPECTIVELY COINCIDING AT LEAST IN PART WITH THE FIRST AND SECOND CURVED PORTIONS OF THE MEMBER, AND A CLAMPING MEANS CARRIED BY THE MEMBER, SAID CLAMPING MEANS INCLUDING A CLAMPING FOOT DISPOSED ON ONE SIDE OF THE MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE FIRST AND SECOND CURVED PORTIONS OF THE MEMBER RESPECTIVELY CURVED AWAY FROM AND TOWARD, FIRST AND SECOND ARMS EACH HAVING AN END FIXED TO THE CLAMP FOOT SLIDABLY EXTENDING RESPECTIVELY THROUGH THE FIRST AND SECOND SLOTS, MEANS AT THE ENDOF THE FIRST ARM FOR PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT OF THE SAME FROM THE FIRST SLOT AND FOR ENGAGEMENT AGAINST THE OUTER CONCAVE SIDE OF THE FIRST CURVED PORTION TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE CLAMP FOOT IN ONE DIRECTION, SAID SECOND ARM BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE WEB ON SAID ONE SIDE OF THE MEMBER AND HAVING A LENGTH AT LEAST SUFFICIENTLY GREAT TO EXTEND THROUGH THE SECOND SLOT WHEN THE MEANS AT THE END OF THE FIRST ARM IS ENGAGED TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE CLAMP FOOT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION. 